Local High School Baseball Teams Compete in Lions Tournament

Rancho Bernardo, Del Norte, and Poway face off in annual tournament

Apr. 7, 2026 at 8:06pm

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A cubist-style painting featuring overlapping geometric shapes and planes in bright colors, representing the energy and action of a high school baseball game.The Lions Tournament showcased the diverse talents and strategies of local high school baseball teams as they competed for early-season supremacy.Poway Today

The annual Lions Tournament saw mixed results for local high school baseball teams Rancho Bernardo, Del Norte, and Poway. Rancho Bernardo made it to the championship game but fell to Cathedral Catholic 3-0, while Del Norte went 3-1 and Poway struggled at 1-3 in the tournament.

Why it matters

The Lions Tournament is an important early-season event that gives teams a chance to face tough competition and prepare for league play and the playoffs. How these local teams perform can provide insights into their strengths, weaknesses, and potential for the rest of the season.

The details

Rancho Bernardo, the defending champions, were shut down by Cathedral Catholic's pitching in the title game, managing just one hit. Del Norte also went 3-1, with their only loss coming against eventual champion Paloma Valley. Poway had a tougher time, going 1-3 in the tournament, though they did pick up a 15-14 win over Grossmont.

  • The Lions Tournament took place over four days in early April 2026.
  • Rancho Bernardo opened North County Coastal League play on Tuesday, April 8, 2026.
  • Del Norte opened North County Coastal League play on Tuesday, April 8, 2026 as well.
  • Poway opened Avocado League play on Wednesday, April 9, 2026.

The players

Jeff Baumback

The head baseball coach for Rancho Bernardo High School.

Cody Reynolds

The junior pitcher for Cathedral Catholic High School who threw a dominant game against Rancho Bernardo in the championship.

Noah Villa

One of the starting pitchers for Rancho Bernardo High School.

Jack Glandorf

The sophomore pitcher for Del Norte High School who has a 4-0 record and 1.33 ERA so far this season.

Tyler Roy

The junior player for Poway High School who went 4-for-5 with 3 RBIs in their 15-14 win over Grossmont.

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What they’re saying

“We played a good team and after the first inning, we shut them down. But their pitcher was on and although we hit the ball hard, it was always at someone, and we ended up with just one hit.”

— Jeff Baumback, Rancho Bernardo Head Baseball Coach

“Noah is one of our starters, but he is also our go-to reliever, and I felt good about our chances.”

— Jeff Baumback, Rancho Bernardo Head Baseball Coach

“I'll take an 11-2 record at this time of year any time and now we go into the second season, league play, which is different from tournaments and post-season because you get a lot of games every week and it's a real test.”

— Jeff Baumback, Rancho Bernardo Head Baseball Coach

What’s next

The teams will now shift their focus to league play, with Rancho Bernardo hosting La Costa Canyon on Wednesday, April 9 and Del Norte hosting Carlsbad on the same day. Poway will face Westview in Avocado League action on Wednesday and again on Saturday, April 12.

The takeaway

While the results were mixed in the Lions Tournament, these local high school baseball teams have shown the potential to compete at a high level this season. The upcoming league play will be a true test of their abilities and provide a better indication of their prospects for the playoffs.